Refrigerator car



June 1l, 1929. H. AQs'lMMs 1,716,867

REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed Sept. l5, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 'June 11, 1929. H A @MMS 1,716,867

REFRIGERATOR CAR Fued sept. 15, 1925 s sheets-sheet s Figli Patented June 11, 1929.

HAROLD A. SIMMS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.-

REFRIGERATOR CAR.

Application filed September 15, 1923. Y Serial No. 662,863.

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerator cars. i

One object of the invention is to provide an improved refrigerator car having ice cham'- bers at opposite ends, wherein the bulk-heads forming the ice chambers are composed Aof hinged doors which may be readily'swung open to obtain access to the chambers.'

Another/object of the invention isto provide a car of the character indicated having ice chambers at the ends thereof, provi-ded with bulkheads which are adapted to be swung aside, whereby the space provided for the ice chambers may be made available for carrying freight when the car is not used as a refrigerator.

Another object of my invention is to provide a refrigerator car vhaving the ice compartment so constructed that repair of any part may be made at any time without de* stroying the bulk-head as is now commonly necessary where the bulk-head is ixed'or permanent with respect to the walls of the car.

A still further object of my inventionris to provide Ya refrigerator car having an ice chamber with bulk-heads so constructed that they may be readily opened and access immediately obtained to the ice compartment to remove such Vice as may be therein at the end of a trip, and have the car made immediately available for transporting dry freight.

@ther objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the accompanying drawings. forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a verti-l cal, transverse, 'sectional view through a refrigerator car, corresponding substantially to the line 1-1 ef Figure fand showing my improvements'embodied therein. Figure 2 is a horizontal, sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Figure 1. And Figure 4 is a horizontal, sectional view through a bulkfhead, corresponding substantially to the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

In said drawings, 10 indicates the roof, 11 the floor, 12-12 the insulated side walls and 13 one of the insulated end walls of a refrigerator car. The car also has an insulated ceiling 14 and the side and end walls are provided with the usual innersheathing 15. At each end of the car and spaced from the adjacent end wall thereof is a transversely exopposite sides of the tending bulkhead A, the bulkhead at one end of the car only being shown in the drawing. The bulkheads A divide the cai-vinto a large central and two relatively small end compartments, thereby providing ice chambers or compartments B at the opposite ends of the c ar. Immediately above each of the respective ice chambers B and communicating therewith are provided a pair of hatches 16 through which the cars are adapted to be iced, the hatches 16 of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the car. The hatches 16 are of`usual and wellknown construction, each being provided with an insulated door 17 tightly sealing the hatch opening and a hatch cover 18.

The bulkheads A, at the opposite ends of the car are of like construction, each comprising a pair of swinging doors 19 and 20, the doors 19 and 2O being hinged respectively adjacent the side walls of the car, to the outer sides of vertically disposed door posts 21 at car. The doors .19 and 20 are of substantially the same construction, each comprising vertically disposed outer and inner heavy side timbers 22 and 23; horizontally disposed heavy cross timbers 24, 25 and 2G; spaced apart front and back walls 27 and 28; a vertically extending center brace 29; and a diagonally exten-ding cross brace 30. The cross timber 24 of each door forms the upper edge thereof and the cross timbers 25 and 26 are spaced an appreciable distance from the upper and lower ends of the door respectively, thereby providing upper and lower air circulating openings in each door. The walls 27 and 28 of each door span the space between the side timbers 22 and 23 and extend from the timber 25 to the timber 26. The center and cross braces 29 and 30 are disposed in the space between the walls and extend between the timbers 25 and 26.the brace 29`being adjacent the wall 28 and the brace 30 being adjacent the wall 27 the latter extending from the outer lower corner to the upper inner corner of the walled portion of the door. The doors are preferably properly -insulated by `interposing four-ply insulation between the walls 27 and 28, as indicated at 31.

The corners of the opening at the upper.

end portion of each door are braced by pairs of metal strip members 82 extending vertically of and xed to the timbers 22 and 23 respectively` and'having upper and lower inwardly projecting right-angular extensions the cross timber 26 and the timbers 22 and 23. respectively, by bolts or any other suitable fastening devices. The bottom wall of the opening at the lower end of each door is formed by a section of metal strip 34 which also forms the lower edge of the door. The opposite ends ofl the strip 34 are bent upwardly at right angles to the major portion thereof and are bolted or otherwise secured to the inner sides of the timbers 22 and 23. The major portion of the strip 34, which eX- tends between the timbers 22 and 23, is inclined transversely to the horizontal, as clearly shown in Figure 3, whereby the rear edge thereof is disposed above the front edge and is oll'set with reference to the lower edge ofthe door.

rlhe openings at the upper and lower ends of each door are spanned, respectively, by protective wire nettings and 36 set into the front surfaces of the respective timbers along the edges of the openings7 the netting 35 being clamped in place by four metal strips 134, secured respectively to the timbers 22, 23, 24 and 25, and the netting 36 being clamped in place by three similar metal strips 33 secured respectively to the timbers 22, 23, and 26 and a fourth somewhatwider strip 39 riveted or otherwise secured to spaced angle members 40 riveted tothe strip 34.

rl`he baclr of each of the doors 19 and 2O is also provided with a protecting netting or screening 41 completely covering the wall 28 of`earh door and the opening at the upper end thereof, the netting 41 being spaced with reference to the wall 28 of the door by vertically extending strips 42 secured to the back of the door, the space between the netting and the door providing an air circulating passage. The upper end portions of the strips are beveled or inclined upwardly toward the door terminating adjacent the upper opening in the same, and the corresponding portion of the screen 42 is similarly inclined, the upper end portion of the latter being o'set toward the door and seated in a rabbet surrounding the opening. To protect the Vertical edge portions of the netting 41 adjacent the inner edge of the door, each door is provided with a vertically extending section of angle bar 92 having one arm thereof bolted to the corresponding edge timber 23 and the other arm projecting at right-angles to the door beyond the adjacent edge of the netting.

Each of the doors 19 and 20 is provided with upper and lower hinge straps 43 and 44, each pivotally connected by means of a hinge pin to a co-acting hinge strap 45 secured tol one of the door posts 21, the straps 45 being disposed between each respective side wall of the car and the adjacent post 21 at each end of the car, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. Each of the straps 43 extends entirely across the front of the corresponding door, is bolted or otherwise secured to the top cross timber 24 and has its end terminating adjacent the meeting edges of the doors turned outwardly at right angles to provide a locking bolt receiving lug 46. The lug 46 on the strap of the door 20 is in alinement with the edge of the door, while the lug 46 of the strap of the door 19 is spaced inwardly from the edge of the latter. The door 19 is also preferably provided with an eye bolt 47 adjacent the upper end thereof, extending through the timber 23 and having the eye thereof extending between the lugs 46 when the doors are closed. rl`he lugs 46 are perforated in alinement with the eye of the boltto receive a locking bolt 43 adapted to be inserted through the same and the eye of the bolt, said locking bolt having a gravity member 49 pivoted to the end thereof adapted to prevent accidental removal of the locking bolt.

Each of the straps 44 also extends entirely across the front of the corresponding door, is bolted or otherwise secured to the cross-tim ber 26, and has the end thereof terminating adj acent the meeting edges of the doors pro.- vided with locking bolt receiving means, comprising a pair of vertically spaced bolt receiving eye members 50 on the strap 44 of the door 20 and a corresponding bolt receivingeye member 51 on the strap 44 of the door 19. The door 2O is also preferably provided with an eye-bolt 52 adjacent the edge thereof, extending through the timber 23 and having the eye thereof disposed between the eye member 51 and the lowermost member 50, with the opening thereof alined with the opening of said hinge members to receive a locking bolt 53, the adjacent edges of the doors being cut away to accommodate the locking boltI 53. evident from the preceding description, the doors 19 and 2O at each end of the car are so As will be hinged as to lie flat against the side walls of the car when swung to fully opened position, as clearly shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, thereby occupying the minimum amount of space when the car is converted for carrying ordinary freight.

As clearly shown in Figure 4, the meeting edges of the doors 19 and 2O are beveled so as to match and wedge tightly together when closed. Anti-friction rollers 150 are also, preferably, provided at the lower ends of the doors 19 and 20, the same being set into the lower ends of the timbers 23. The rollers 150 are adapted to roll on the floor 11 when the doors are swung on their hinges, thereby preventing undue strain being placed on the latter and giving the doors an easy movement. A pair of angle bars 54 and 55, exteding transversely of the car and coacting respectively with the timbers 24 and 26 of each set of vdoors 19 and 20, function as door stops. v Inward movement ofthe door is also arrested by a member 56 fixed to the ioor 11 and extending transversely of the car, with which the lower ends of the door timbers 22 and 23 .areA adapted to abut. The angle 54 has one arm thereof h0rizontally-disposed and suitably secured to the cgiling 14 of the car y and .has the other arm thereof disposed verltudinally the car.

tically to act as an abutmentfor the doors. A latch 151, .having one end thereof pivoted within the housing 152 set into the floor, is adapted to be swung into position in front of the doors 19 and 20 as shown in Fig. 1 to retain the doors in closed position, the housing being of a size to -permit the latch to drop into the same so as to entirely clear the lower edges `of thedoors. i

The angle bar is suitably securedto short, vertical posts 57 disposed at intervals across the car, there being preferably four such posts at each end of the car, one adjacent each side wall and one at each side of the center line `of the car, all of said posts being equally spaced apart. The posts 57 are in the form of I-beams cut out at their lower ends to accommodate the member 56 and having the downwardly extended portions 58 thereof, extending' into and supported by the drip pan 76. The upper ends of the posts 57 are provided with angles 59 fixed thereto, and to the lower horizontal arm of the bar 55 by rivets or any other suitable means. The angle bar 55 normally has the other arm3 vertically disposed and adapted to act as an abutment for the doors. The posts 57 and angle bars 5 5at each end of the car are further braced by four flat bars 60 extending longi- Each angle barl55 to gether withthe posts 57 fixed thereto is hinged to the bars 60 of the corresponding ice chamber grating 66 by means of a plurality of hinge members 61, each having the straps thereof riveted to one of the bars 60 and the corresponding I-beam 57, respectively. rl`he opposite end of each' bar 60 is normally supported by a Z-bar 62 extending transversely of the car'and iixed to the horizontally extending cross timber 63 of the car by bolts 64 or any other suitable means. The Z-bar is is also 'supported by a cross timber 65 on which it rests. s

Each of the ice chambers A is provided with an ice supporting grating 66 extending,

from side to side of the car, the grating be` ing composed of a plurality of sets of wooden bars 67 having rounded upper surfaces. In the present instance, three sets of barsare shown, the bars of each set preferably,A extending transversely of the' car, and supported at their vopposite ends upon beams 68 extending longitudnally ofthe car, and

each bolted to one of the bars 60. Each set of grating bars are held together by tie bolts 69 extending therethrough, and adjacent bars of each set are spaced apart'by separating ferrules 70 on the bolts 69. oEach section of grating 66 is securely held to the beams 68 by bolts 71 anchored to brackets 72 secured to the opposite side faces of the beams 68, and co-acting with clamping plates 7 3, each adapted to engage over. the end portions of two adjacent bars 67. Four sets of clamping bolts 71 and plates 7 3 are preferably provided for each section of grating, one set at each corner of the same.

Within the ice chambers B, the inner sheathing 15 of the side and end walls of the car is preferably provided with netting 74 extending from the ceiling to a point below the upper surface of the grating, preferably extending in close proximity to the upper surfaces lof the beams 68. The netting 74 is spaced from the sheathing by vertically disposed spacing and nailing strips 75 to whicn the netting 74 is secured, saidstrips 75 be-,

ing' suitably fixed to the sheathing 15. A space is thus provided between the sheathing. and the netting to provide for circulation.

The gratings 66 are supported for swinging movement by hinge members 174 having the straps thereof secured respectively to Aeach grating 66 and blocks 175 secured to the sheathing 15 at each end of the car. The gratings may thus be swung vertically out of the way to the dotted line position in Figure 3, when desired, to make the space normally occupied by the ice chambers available for transporting freight. As the posts 57 are also hinged to the gratings, it will be evident that the saine will be folded as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. To retain lthe gratings 66 in the dotted line position, a plurality of hooks 176 are prefmetal drip pan 76, preferably formed of l galvanized iron. The drip pan 76 is of rectangula'rV shape and has the rear wall 77 thereof extending between the Z-bar and the beam 65 thereby preventing moisture from coming into direct contact with the timber 65. The front wall 78 of the drip pan is bent angularly so as to conform tothe member 56 and protect the upper and inner side faces thereof from moisture. A

F rom the preceding description, considered in connection with the drawings, it will be noted that I provide for a circulation of the air such that the cold air passes downwardly through the ice grating at the bottom of the ice chamber, thence outwardly into the main compartment of the car through the bottom Ventilating openings of the bulkhead doors, the warmer air entering the ice chamber through the top Ventilating openings of the bulkhead doors and passing down- Wardly through the ice chamber. lt will also be noted that the downward circulation of the air through the ice chamber is permitted adjacent the side walls of the car, the end wall of the car and on the inner sides of the bulkhead doors, so that proper and etlicient circulation of the air through and around the ice is always assured.

`When it is desired to obtain access to the ice chambers for any purpose, the bolts 48 and 53 are withdrawn, whereupon the doors may be swung to the dotted line positions shown in Figure 2. lt will be evident that where the car is not to be used for commodities requiring icing in transit, the entire length of the same may be made available for carrying other commodities by merely throwing the doors to the position shown in Figure 2, raising the gratings 66 to the position shown in Figure 3, securing the same by the hooks 176 and folding the posts 57 against the bars G0.

l have herein shown and described what. l now consider the preferred manner of earrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative, and l' contemplate all changes and modiiications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: i

1. In a refrigerator car, the combination with a foldable bulkhead separating said car into compartments; of means for supporting said bulkhead and means for bracing said bulkhead against torsional movement, said means including transversely arranged spaced members extending across said bulkhead and bearing against said supporting means when said bulkhead is in operative position;

2. ln a car, the combination with a bulkhead comprising a pair of doors extending transversely of the car to divide the same into compartments; and means for hingjing said doors adjacent the side walls or the car for swinging movement about ,vertical axes, whereby, said doors may be swung to a position closely adjacent said side walls; and means for bracing said doors against torsional movement, said means including transversely disposed, spaced members adapted to bear against each other and transmitting stress to said supporting means.

3. ln a car, the combination with a bulkhead extending transversely of said car and normally' .separating the car into compartments, one of which serves as an ice chamber, said bulkhead comprising a pair of doors hinged adjacent the side walls of the car and adapted to be swung to positions adjacent said side walls; of means for bracing said doors against torsional movement, said means including transversely disposed, spaced members adapted to bear against each other and to transmit stress lengthwise thereof; and means for locking said -doors in closed positions when disposed transversely of said car, said locking means being associated with said bracing members.

4. In a car, the. combination with a pair ot' transversely extending bulkheads at opposite ends of the car dividing the same into a central freight compartment and a pair of ice chambers at opposite ends of the car, said bulkheads being composed of sections swingable to positions approximately parallel to the sides of the car; of means for bracing said door against torsional movement, said means including bracing members adapted to bear against each other, and to transmit stress lengthwise thereof; and means for locking said doors in closed position, said doors being provided with beveled meeting faces.

y5. In a refrigerator car, a pair of doors hinged adjacent the side walls of the ycar and adapted to be disposed in position at right angles to said walls to provide a bulkhead and also adapted to be swung to positions adjacent said side walls; and means for bracing said doors against torsional movement, said means including transversely disposed, spaced members adapted to bear against each other and to transmit stress lengthwise thereof; said doors being insulated and provided with ventilating openings at the top and bottom.

6. In a refrigerator car, the combination with a pair of doors forminga bulkhead, of means for hinging said doors, said means including hinge straps on each door extending entirely across the same; and means on said straps for receiving locking bolts to lock said doors in closed position.

7. ln a refrigerator car, the combination with a bulkhead separating the car into compartments, one of which is an ice chamber; of means within said ice chamber for supporting` ice, including a grating; supports for said grating including a Z-bar having a downwardly extending leg; and a drip pan beneath said grating, said pan having a portion of one of the walls thereof overlapped by said leg.

8, ln a refrigerator car, the combination with a transversely extending swingably mounted bulkhead on the interior of the car, thereby n'oviding an ice chamber between said bulkhead and the end wall of the car, said bulkhead having ventilated upper and lower openings permitting circulation of an through the bottom openings into the main compartment of the car and from the latter lthrough the upper openings into the ice chamber; an ice supporting platform within the ice chamber; and means, part of which are carried by said bulkhead, providing vertically disposed air circulating passages on all four sides of the ice chamber,said passages communicating with said ice chamber by means of a plurality of openings in the walls which define said chamber.

9. In a refrigerator car, the combination with a bulkhead comprising a pair of doors hinged on vertical axes and providing an ice chamber, said bulkhead having Ventilating openings; and means part of which are carried by said bulkhead forming retaining walls of said ice chamber, said walls being arranged to provide air circulating passages on its various sides, the walls having a plurality of openings communicating With said air passages.

10. In a convertible car,"the combination with a bulkhead comprising a pair of doors hinged adjacent theside walls of the car, said doors, when closed, dividing the car into compartments, one of which is an ice charnber; of ice supporting meansswingably con-- nected to the end wall of the car; and means Afor supporting the forward edge of said .supporting means; including a plurality of spaced posts secured to a connecting bar upon which said supporting means lare adapted to rest, said bar and said posts being hingedly f connected to said supporting means. o

11. In a convertible car, the combination with a bulkhead comprising a pair of doors hinged adjacent the side walls of the car, said doors, when closed, dividin the car into compartments, one of which 1s an ice chami ber; of ice supporting means pivotally connected to the end wall of the car and adapted to be swung L7into position against said end wall; and meansv for supporting'the forward edge of said supporting means, including a transversely arranged angle bar having a plurality of spaced posts secured to one angular flange thereof, the other angular flange uextending` vertically outwardly f the free forward edge of said supporting means to act as a door stopwhen said supporting means are in operative position,n said angle bar and said posts being hingedly connected adjacent the forward portion offsaid supporting means.

' l2. In a refrigerator car, the combination with a bulkhead comprising a pair of doors forming'a bulkhead; of means for hinging said doors to swing about vertical axes, said means including hinge straps on each door extending the ent-ire Width across the same, said bulkhead providing an ice chamber and having Ventilating vopenings therein; and means, part of which -are carried by said bulkhead, forming retaining walls of said ice chamber, said walls being arrangedto provide air circulating passages on its various sides, the Walls having a plurality of open- 13. In a refrigerator car, the combination Y with a pair of doors forming a bulkhead for said car; of means for hinging said doors to the car walls toswing about`-vertica1 axes, said means including spaced hinged straps on each door extending entirely across the same, the hinge straps of 'each door being disposed longitudinally in alignment with the hinge straps of the other door; and means for rigidly locking the free ends of said straps together when the doors are in closed position, said means serving toimaintain the doors closed, said hinge straps, when locked together, providing rigidifying braces extending entirely across the bulkhead so as to resist distortion thereof in operation of the car.

In witness that I claim the foregoingI have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of August 1923. 

